Premier Menachem Begin will head a large delegation scheduled to fly tomorrow to Alexandria for the first Egyptian-Israeli summit meeting since Begin’s reelection for a discussion of a variety of topics, including one which is a sore point for the Israelis — what they consider the slow pace of normalization of relations between Egypt and Israel for which they hold Egypt responsible.
Another key topic will be the completion of Israel’s withdrawal from the Sinai peninsula, scheduled for next April under the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. Observers said the Israeli delegation will seek to create a linkage between the way Israel will evacuate the Sinai and the nature of relations between the two countries.
Observers said that normalization of relations and Sinai evacuation arrangements have been given precedence, as far as the Israelis are concerned, over resumption of the talks on autonomy for the Arabs of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, also required by the Egyptian-Israeli treaty, which have been in a state of suspension for the past 14 months.
Israeli officials reportedly feel they will have more leverage to expand normalization before completion of the Sinai withdrawal than after.
NORMALIZATION AND EVACUATION OF SINAI
As the Israelis see it, an evacuated Sinai peninsula will serve as a bridge between Israel and Egypt and the peninsula will be open to a free flow of tourist traffic, both by auto and train. Airfields in the Sinai will be used for civilian purposes and postal services will operate on the ground as well as by air. Israel also wants a step-up of the normalization process in such areas as larger operations of Israeli corporations in Egypt, youth delegations exchanges and more cultural ties.
Under the peace pact, Israel must turn over to the Egyptians the civilian and military infrastructures they created during their occupation of Sinai but at the regular Sunday Cabinet meeting there were expressions of differing views as to just what parts of those infrastructures should be handed over to Egypt.
Most Cabinet Ministers urged that everything movable should be dismantled and brought back to Israel, with only the immovable components left behind. But Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, a member of the delegation going to Alexandria, and three Liberal Ministers suggested that Israel leave behind a considerable quantity of buildings and equipment, but on a purchase-by-Egypt basis.
Begin is expected to raise in Alexandria the resumption of the autonomy talks but he is not expected to try for a formal understanding on which talks could be resumed, primarily because the two countries are so diametrically opposed on many principles affecting the autonomy goals. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Kamal Hassan Ali, said over the weekend that the autonomy talks are
not likely to be resumed until after the completion of President Reagan’s meetings with Middle East leaders which will last until the end of the year. Begin, who is understood to be determined not to make any more concessions than those already made, is likely to agree with that timetable.
The Alexandria talks will last two days, including three working sessions between President Anwar Sadat and Begin, with parallel talks between Ministers of Egypt and Israel. Sharon plans to remain in Egypt until the end of the week.
According to reports from Cairo, the Egyptians have shown special interest in Sharon’s recent intensive contacts with West Bank leaders. Egyptians have expressed the hope that the contacts would lead the way to a resumption of the autonomy talks and development of Palestinian trust in the talks.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
